New Delhi, Sep 7: Pakistan’s first-ever Economic Census since independence in 1947 has exposed alarming disparities in the country’s social and economic infrastructure, with mosques far outnumbering schools and hospitals.
According to the findings, Pakistan has over 600,000 mosques and 36,000 seminaries, compared to just 269,000 schools and 119,000 hospitals for its 250 million citizens, most of whom live below the poverty line. The census underscores systemic weaknesses that have hindered education, strained healthcare, and curtailed economic growth.
The education sector is particularly underdeveloped, with only 11,568 colleges and 214 universities nationwide, resulting in poor human capital quality. Healthcare access is also limited, with just one hospital available for every 2,083 people, a critical shortfall in a country battling malnutrition and disease.
Employment trends reveal the informal nature of Pakistan’s economy. Of the 10.9 million individuals engaged in work, 5.6 million are involved in livestock rearing, 419,000 in tailoring, and only 93,000 in online services. The census notes 7.143 million businesses employing 25.3 million people, but only 250,000 are formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission, highlighting the dominance of informal and micro enterprises. Notably, 95 per cent of establishments employ fewer than ten people, while the services sector accounts for nearly 58 per cent of the workforce, leaving manufacturing and production sectors lagging.
The report also highlights regional disparities, with Punjab and Sindh leading in economic establishments, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan remain underdeveloped.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, releasing the census, admitted that this was Pakistan’s first such exercise, while neighbouring countries have conducted several over the decades. Analysts note that the delay reflects the military’s dominance in governance, with defence spending prioritized over education, healthcare, and industrial development.
